If you’ve been staring at a spreadsheet all morning - the opposite to a feast for the eyes - Beyoncé’s your woman. The trailer for Black Is King, a visual album premiering on Disney+ on 31 July, has just dropped - and it’s every bit as arresting as Spirit and Lemonade.
While it was originally conceived as a companion piece to The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack that would ‘celebrate the breath and beauty of Black ancestry,’ Black Is King, emerging into a world that has erupted in protests for Black Lives Matter since George Floyd’s death in May, has taken on a ‘greater purpose’.
As Beyoncé writes on Instagram: ‘The events of 2020 have made the film’s vision and message even more relevant, as people across the world embark on a historic journey...I believe that when Black people tell our own stories, we can shift the axis of the world and tell our REAL history of generational wealth and richness of soul that are not told in our history books.’
It also features Kelly Rowland, actor Lupita N’yongo, models Naomi Campbell and Adut Akech, and Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, making for a blockbuster line-up.
Also, and this goes with saying, its 70 seconds are enough to prove that the fashion is as amazing as you might expect.
As she narrates the line, ‘Life is a set of choices,’ Beyoncé appears in a mocha-coloured bodystocking, dancing with a crescent moon print, by Marine Serre. Another fantastical montage sees her variously wearing a hot pink turban, opera gloves and crystal-studded cat’s eye sunglasses while swimming, and then taking tea with Kelly Rowland.
Beyoncé's wearing splashy florals by Erdem and waterfall earrings by Anabela Chan, while Michelle’s in a sweet gingham co-ord that looks like Rosie Assoulin.
Other notable pieces include a cow-print skirt (Burberry) and a pair of chunky crystal sandals (Christian Louboutin), while outfits like the ethereal off-the-shoulder dress that she wears to anoint a little boy’s forehead with paint, and the sequined leopard print catsuit (that neatly matches both her ride and her bevy of male companions) prove that when it comes to drama dressing, Queen Bey still rules.
SEE: Some Of Beyoncé's Best-Ever Outfits
SEE: Beyoncu00e9's Best Fashion Moments Of All Time
1 of 13Beyoncé and Blue Ivy at 2016's MTV Movie Awards
The mother-daughter duo balanced each other out perfectly (big shoulders on Bey, big skirt on Blue) at 2016's MTV Movie Awards.
2 of 13Beyoncé wearing a plum-colour dress from Phillip Plein
Beyoncé wore a plum dress by Phillip Plein, finished with spike-heeled pumps from Christian Louboutin, at a concert in 2015.
3 of 13Destiny's Child wearing flag-inspired jeans
Destiny's Child donned some flag-inspired denim for a concert in 2005.
4 of 13Beyoncé at 2015's Grammy Awards
At 2015's Grammy Awards, the singer opted for classic mega-watt glamour courtesy of Proenza Schouler.
5 of 13Beyoncé at 2007's Golden Globes
Beyoncé looked like a gilded statuette - in a gown by Elie Saab - at 2007's Golden Globes.
6 of 13Beyoncé at 2015's Met Gala
Her 'naked' look at 2015's Met Gala, a bejewelled dress-slash-bodystocking from Givenchy, sealed the fate of the barely-there dress forever.
7 of 13Beyoncé at 2014's Met Gala
Givenchy provided another understated gown, this time at 2014's Met Gala.
8 of 13Beyoncé at 2009's Oscars
Beyoncé wore a fishtail-skirted black-and-gold gown, by Armani Privé, at the 81st Academy Awards.
9 of 13Beyoncé at 2016's Met Gala
As a follow-up to 2015's 'naked' dress, Bey wore a latex gown, another directional number by her favourite Givenchy, to 2016's Met Gala.
10 of 13Beyoncé at 2017's Grammy Awards
At 2017's Grammy Awards, Bey looked like a golden sun goddess (or perhaps just an angel) in glowing Peter Dundas.
11 of 13Beyoncé at 2017's Grammy Awards
She arrived at the press photocall wearing another smash-hit gown from Peter Dundas, accessorising with her twin awards.
12 of 13Beyoncé at 2018's Grammy Awards
Now, 2018's Grammy Awards look, a bespoke gown with a swooping hat by Nicolas Jebran, is Bey at her most iconic.
13 of 13Beyoncé at 2021's Grammy Awards
For this year's Grammys, Beyoncé chose designer of the moment Daniel Roseberry, Schiaparelli's creative director who is the man responsible for the 2021 stylings of Lady Gaga (on Inauguration Day), Emma Corrin (at the Critics Choice Awards) and Tracee Ellis Ross (at the NAACP Image Awards).